Aldo Rainoldi, Sassella

In the northern Italian Alps, a patchwork of steeply terraced vineyards graces the northern side of the valley in Lombardy that stretches 25 miles east to west. The vineyards, all facing south, receive optimum sun exposure and are ideal for growing grapes. Winemaking here dates back to the first millennium and today, Valtellina is the only well-established and recognized wine region almost completely dedicated to growing and making Nebbiolo. In that valley, Rainoldi’s history began in 1925 when Aldo Rainoldi started selling wine in Lombardy and in Switzerland. From the 1960s, Rainoldi then started to export wines across the world.